Heaven's Backyard

Every now and then I stumble across a place that actually resonates with what I picture Heaven to be. Something that is more than some angels draped in gleaming white robes, casually singing atop the clouds, maybe a harp or two dangling from the stars at night. 

Page Duke Landscape Architects has achieved that.  

Insert  me in my swagged out robes on this bench.

When I see distressed brick, plus a twisted rod iron gate, plus heavy greenery shadowing the light boxes, all I think of is old mysteries and ancient stories buried deep inside the property. It's like every kid's dream to walk through here because they are guaranteed an adventure - at least that's what every childhood story ever told me to expect.

Oh hey there, ol' fella!

How my summer should have been spent? Sprawled across this field with the butler on standby for more iced tea, a book or two by my side, and waiting for James McAvoy to swing on by so we can discuss why he shouldn't go away to war and just continue his medicine school please.*

Hehe, this is the only fixture I would most likely disagree on. Not that I don't like cherubs throwing up.

*m

*Atonement reference. I am not just delusional over a life with James McAvoy (entirely).

The Antlers and Some Goodies

Listen to the lyrics.

A few nights ago I was up late chatting with a friend, and the topic of music came up.

Always a casual subject, I was expecting an exchange of songs, and that would be it. 

I was saying how if you listen to Bon Iver's Blood Bank at the same time as Rainy Mood, it can lull you to sleep within minutes. He agreed. "But nothing will ever come close to The Antlers."

Here are the lyrics.

...and he was right. I have been completely wooed.
It isn't often that music can actually hypnotize me enough so that if I lay down and listen to it, I can just let their lyrics breathe through me, the delicate notes of piano acting as a heartbeat to their message. Their music is beautiful.

Please listen to these songs! I hope it shall resonate with you as deeply as it has with me. *read in an elderly English accent for most impact*



Anyways, it's good to be home. I've spent the last week reading To the Lighthouse, sipping variations of David's Tea (can't get any better than this), watching Pride & Prejudice over and over (don't ask why, not sure myself, I was just obsessed) and playing Kettering on the piano, but the internet connection has been a sketchy, disappointing situation so I couldn't post anythang.

But YO! Because I have abandoned you unexpectedly for a week, I fully intend to make up for that by making this post full of equally unexpected goodies. 

Ilana Kohn, Spring '12

Ilana Kohn, you too have wooed me with your breezy tops and sundresses. Something about watching Keira Knightley wander through the knolls of the English countryside in those simple, high waisted dresses make me want to throw away my entire wardrobe and replace them with summer dresses fit for six glorious weeks of July spent in a French chateau. Really not too much to ask.

Bzrbzr Ombre Tights

Ombre tights are easily my newest obsession. Scrolling down past each photo was like watching a flower bloom in slow motion, a little in awe... at tights. Aka Tiffany Ju has made tights into something of an art and that is no small feat, I'm sure.

Slash this song came on and I found it quite suitable. Refer to the line: "...and you can walk your long legs, baby, right out of my life."

Scout & Catalogue, Spring '12

If I could look anywhere near as effortlessly cool as this girl, then I'm sold. This photo shoot was apparently shot entirely in the dead of winter, but they've achieved such a dainty, spring-like vibe to it all with her distressed blonde hair, the pastel palette, and the happy splash of vibrant ocean colours.

LAS Jewelry

Okay, who doesn't want a wolf eating their finger as a ring. That isn't a question on purpose. I already know the answer. And note the battle wounds on the ears of the rabbit, what a unique touch to an already whimsical piece itself. 

Erin Wasson for Zadig & Voltaire

Here are a few goodies hand picked from her shots for Zadig & Voltaire, Summer '12 collection. What did I take from these photos? 

a. I want her hair (...slash her face in general, and her ability to look so absolutely laid back while maintaining that rocker, bad-ass look).

b. This will be my French vacation home I was mentioning earlier. Oh golly jee willickers, guys, just bought it, so excited!

and c. Above all, I need Zadig & Voltaire in my summer wardrobe, stat. 

This has to be the most ornate, stunning, intricate fireplace I have ever seen. Talk about paying attention to details. It's honestly a form of art in this room, I can't take my eyes off it. 

Mmm, greenery. Come to mama! I would be so at peace working here. Kudos to the architect who intentionally forgot a wall, pretty brilliant.

ILa Boom Shadow Boxes (found via Happiness is...)

D'aaaw. I can already a picture an entire wall dedicated to these enchanting shadow boxes, in an otherwise totally minimalist room. Very scandinavian, eh? 

Oh, and ps, be prepared to be washed over with envy. The creator of these gems lives on a small cycladic sland, Antiparos, with the Aegean sea stretching beyond her view for miles upon miles, acting as her inspiration and source of calm. Wow. 

***

Until next time, I bid you adieu.

That was my cat alter ego speaking.

*m

Bobby Pinning

I felt like I could share this with you all, now that you know my dreams of becoming an architect (oh so slowly, step by step). In my drafting and design class, I was told to come up with a small scale city scape made of just one material. So, naturally, I chose bobby pins... much more difficult than I thought because of how rigid they are. However, this is what I came up with so far. It's more of a building, not really a city scene. I envisioned it as a building in a really green space, with mingling potentially allowed beneath the roof of it.

Anyhways, that's what I have. What would you build if only allowed one material, and small scale? I'm curious now that I'm living and breathing bobby pins in my class. Gah.

*m

Can A Room Have Sex Appeal...

Oh, hey there, beautiful. I enjoy running with my dog in the forest, and cooking up some warm dinners afterwards for you and I to share. Leftovers for my dog, of course.

Oh, didn't see you there! Guess I got lost dreaming about what I should make for dinner. Dessert though is covered, babe. Crème Brûlée is already in the oven just for you.

Darling, so glad you're home. I've missed you. Let's talk for a few hours in these, if I do say so myself, rather seductive leather chairs.

I'm more of the intellectual type myself. Let's reenact a scene of Romeo & Juliet in all this space. You'll make a beautiful, Juliet, you know.

Hi there. I was just thinking about you. I love to read up on the advancements of feminist culture over the last century, and would love to hear your thoughts over a glass of wine.

Clearly, yes.

What we have here, ladies and gentleman, is a class act example of what it means for a room to be, by definition, sexy. I'm sure I'm not the first one to realize, as you're scrolling through some shots of a house, that the adjective "sexy" comes to my mind. Where might this come from? Well, if a room can embody the "dark, rich, and handsome" stereotype of a man, just in terms of sleek lines, dramatic lighting, and a bold sense of personality, then the room would find a way into our hearts relatively quickly, wouldn't it? So maybe "man caves" will find a place in the home of a lady, after all, if done like one of the "studs" above.

Until next time,
*m

ps. The Archtivist, my homepage, is where I found the majority of these good lookin' fellows. Check him out.

{unkown, Roman and Williams, unkown, Arch Daily, The Archtivist}

Little People

Alright, I have approximately six minutes to express in words how much inspiration/nostalgia/love I feel for this photo, all wrapped up in one little ball of happiness. GO!

First you should know just how much of my childhood was filled with a fascination of little things. To me, anything that was a size meant to be handled by faeries was just the most curious and intriguing and wonderful type of thing I could think of. This love of faeries I got from my mum, instilled in me since I was oh, about four and she would bring out picture books of various winged creatures, all of whom had these beautiful, long locks of wispy hair and mischievous looking pointed ears. Now, as an almighty, matured human being who couldn't possibly believe in faeries because that would just be foolish (lies), I have transferred this love of the dainty and whimsical lifestyle of faeries into aspects of interior design and architecture. Loving the seamless look of glass combined with luxurious antiques, and little models like this one.

The Californian retro vibe of this model, infusing two different decades together - the 50's and the 80's - is so damn cool, and it's the one of the first times in a long time I've seen little people that aren't meant to be faeries to be so intriguing.

I'M IN LOVE. WHERE CAN I BUY THIS BEAUTY.

...k, I'm done. Back to chem and physics (save me, please).

*m

{wanken}